Eastern Rite - Feasts of 15 December AM 7532

Today is the Feasts of the Holy Hieromartyr Eleutherius and his Mother, the Holy Martyr Evanthia, of Our Venerable Father Paul of Latra, and of Our Holy Father Stephen the Confessor, Archbishop of Surozh.

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Saint Eleutherius, the son of an illustrious Roman citizen, was raised in Christian piety by his mother. His virtue was such that at the age of twenty, he had been elevated to bishop of Illyria. In the reign of the emperor Hadrian, Saint Eleutherius was tortured for his bold preaching about Christ, then was beheaded in Rome with his mother Evanthia. The Eparch Caribus, who had tortured Saint Eleutherius, also came to believe in Christ and was executed.

Troparion — Tone 5

Adorned with the robe of priest / stained with the streams of your blood, / O wise and blessed Eleutherius, over-thrower of Satan / you hastened to Christ your Master. / Pray unceasingly for those who faithfully honour your contest!

Kontakion — Tone 2

We all praise and entreat you, O Hieromartyr Eleutherius, / adornment of priests and encouragement of martyrs: / Free from danger those who lovingly celebrate your memory, / and pray unceasingly for us all!

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Saint Paul of Latros was a native of the city of Aelen in Pergamum. Early bereft of his father, he was educated at the monastery of Saint Stephen in Phrygia. After the death of his mother, he devoted himself completely to monastic deeds at a monastery on Mount Latra, near Miletos.

Seeking even loftier accomplishments, he secluded himself in a cave. For his ascetic deeds he gained the gifts of clairvoyance and wonderworking. The emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitos (912-959) often wrote to him, asking his prayers and counsel. Saint Paul twice withdrew to the island of Samos, where he established a monastery and restored three monasteries ravaged by the Hagarenes (Arabs). Foretelling his end, the monk reposed in the year 955.

Troparion — Tone 4

Since you dwell together with the bodiless hosts / and are a companion of all the venerable ones, / we praise you, most glorious Paul, / and we beseech you: / “Always pray for us, so that we may find mercy!”

Kontakion — Tone 8

From your youth, O wise one, you bravely desired that which passes understanding / and you forsook the tumult of the world. / Because of your divine way of life you became a dwelling of the Trinity / and enlighten those who turn to you with faith! / Therefore we cry out to you: “Rejoice, most wealthy Paul!”

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Saint Stephen the Confessor, Archbishop of Surrentium (Sourozh), was a native of Cappadocia and was educated at Constantinople. After receiving the monastic tonsure, he withdrew into the wilderness, where he lived for thirty years in ascetic deeds.

Patriarch Germanus of Constantinople (May 12) heard of Stephen’s humility and virtuous life and wished to meet him. He was so impressed with Stephen that he consecrated him bishop of the city of Surrentium (presently the city of Sudak in the Crimea). Within five years, Saint Stephen’s ministry was so fruitful that no heretics or unbaptized pagans remained in Surrentium or its environs.

Saint Stephen opposed the iconoclasm of the emperor Leo III the Isaurian (716-741). Since he refused to obey the orders of the emperor and the dishonourable Patriarch Anastasius to remove the holy icons from the churches, he was brought to Constantinople. There he was thrown into prison and tortured. He was released after the death of the emperor. Already quite advanced in years, he returned to his flock in Surrentium, where he died.

There is an account of how the Rus' prince Bravlin accepted Baptism at the beginning of the ninth century during a campaign into the Crimea, influenced by miracles at the saint’s crypt.

Troparion — Tone 4

O solitary dweller with the bodiless hosts, / you took the Cross as your weapon / and stood firm against the iconoclasts, / who would not honour the icon of Christ our God. / But you cut out all wicked heresies, / then, having won the martyr’s crown, / you delivered your city, Surozh, from all enemies. / And now we implore you, O Stephen: / Deliver us from temptation and eternal torment!

Kontakion — Tone 3

Strengthened by the power of the Most High God, / you overcame the iconoclasts of the royal house. / Today your relics are the glory of Surozh and joy for the faithful, / and the bodiless hosts bear them triumphantly, / glorifying you with hymns of praise, O great Hierarch Stephen!